Friday, September 29, 2017

Together with my treasured friends, we cordially invite you to join our fundraiser to benefit artists who need help getting back on their feet after so many natural disasters.

We are selling a product package that includes eight (8) super cool Art Print cards and a stencil/mask set so you can keep the momentum of positivity moving forward with your own creations. ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT ARTISTS IN NEED.

The idea began following the heartbreak and destruction we witnessed in Houston and surrounding areas because of Hurricane Harvey, but then came Irma, Maria, and earthquakes, and fires. Making donations for recovery is necessary and essential to get people and families back in their homes, and there is an enormous amount of clean up and rebuilding to be done so we applaud the generous contributions this nation has made to the cause. But in addition to giving, it feels good to actually DO something. Since I'm not in a position to drop everything to drive south to help clear debris, I thought I could still offer time and talent, so I created a fundraiser, using art for good.

As I was researching places to give, I came across Craft Emergency Relief Fund, also known as CerfPlus.org, which is a national non-profit foundation that provides assistance, specifically for artists. For artists! The path of destruction not only ruined neighborhoods, schools, churches, and businesses, it crushed spirits. We want to lift up artists who have been affected, and Cerf+ will do that. Then I learned that Etsy is matching donations to Cerf+, dollar for dollar. (It was a sign that I made the right choice!) So if you join in our efforts, they will be doubled when we make the donation! You can imagine that resources like Cerf+ are greatly appreciated by fellow artists who benefit from the assistance, and that additional donations are even more necessary today.

Please spread the word and share the link and let's get this fundraiser sold out! GRNPEP/Etsy.com

In addition to the ArtistsForArtists Art Print cards + Stencil/Mask package, Sam and I have been working on cards for the shop that will be included in the total donation. Usually for sale in his Etsy shop (ForYourSpecialNeeds), we've moved these special edition cards to my shop for the fundraiser. Cards are sold in sets of four (4) warm OR four (4) cool colors with lots of positivity included.

Why Art Print cards? Over the years I've been involved in a number of artist-based fundraisers that were auctions of original art. While these were worthy endeavors and raised respectable sums, the platform catered to bidders with big wallets. I recall thinking that in addition to the original art, it was too bad that time didn't allow for the production of affordable prints of the same art, making it an available option for everyone, therefore casting a wider net of potential donors. With that in mind I determined that affordable packages of really wonderful art could be just the thing to collectively contribute to the cause. My friends rose to the occasion, contributing their art under a short deadline, and we are on our way!

Monday, March 20, 2017

This weekend there are hundreds of Maker's Day events taking place in communities throughout New Jersey. Check the website NJMakersDay.org to find an event near you on Friday and Saturday. Initially launched from my own local library, we are proud be included as a vendor on Sunday, March 26 for their Maker's Market at Piscataway Kennedy Library. Sam will have his painted cards, and our Special Olympic teammate Keith will be there too, with his birdhouses. We hope you'll stop by!!

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Recently my friend Seth asked a handful of bloggers to calculate our most popular blog posts for a re-cap he presented on his blog. It was heartwarming to observe and recognize that my most visited post was the announcement of Sam's invention of "purpose" and the opening of his online shop: see HERE. Also in the top ten was a follow-up, when he was featured in my column for Somerset Studio: see HERE. I know that blog reading is down in general, and that most people tend to visit on facebook rather than clicking through to see full posts. So I thank you all for taking the time to swing by here, and to check in from time to time with your kind comments.

Here's to a creative and productive year ahead for all of us. I hope you find your purpose (one or more!) and that if you already know yours, that you can help a loved one find theirs.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Oh my, the temps have been very red recently. This very second it is 95 degrees here and the heat index is even higher. It's going to be a very warm week. So it was a pleasant surprise when Sam shifted his color palette from warm to cool. The previous batch of cards were reds and oranges, and last week he chose blue, purple, and teal. I love seeing all the cards together. This is the stage where he labels the backs and packages into sets of four. Typically we have selected cards that are similar to be in a set but I'm thinking this time we may offer a variety of colors. New offerings will be posted this week.

As always, thanks for your support and your enthusiasm for Sam's new enterprise. We've received many lovely emails about the article in Somerset Studio. I've been printing out all the comments, notes, and Etsy reviews to put in a binder and we read them together. It's been a beautiful experience.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Last week the new Somerset Studio arrived. My column in this issue features our son Sam and his new venture: Painting with Purpose. Look at this face - it says it all. He was so excited to see his work on the pages of the magazine that regularly arrives here. Our thanks to Stampington who recognized it was a worthwhile story - art making a difference.

We've already gotten some lovely emails about the article, and a handful of orders from new customers! We are adding more selections this week.

Thanks for sharing your kind words and enthusiasm for our story and our project to create purpose for our special guy.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

As April approached I had a grand plan to blog each week under theme of autism awareness. Turns out the month got away from me. Here we are on the last day already. It's been busy, but oh so fulfilling. Thank you to our friends who have supported our new shop. 73 sales is pretty good for our launch month. We also had two commissions - just mailed the second one off today. I had a meeting with our DVR counselor this week. That's a state appointed person who tracks your progress in securing a job - she had referred us to two different agencies to assist with the process. As you know, after three years with no prospects we decided to go out on our own and build a business. She was very kind and went to bat for us with her supervisor to see if they could support us in any way - thanks, but we don't need anything. We got this. While I appreciated her effort, it ended up being a frustrating experience. Because I couldn't supply her with a tax ID and financial reports they regard our enterprise as a hobby, not employment,and have earmarked his file as a non-success. I left the meeting feeling deflated because they don't get it. Profit is not a goal. It's Purpose we are after. And Purpose we created. And Purpose fills our days and brings satisfaction and happiness. Who cares what the files say, we are doing it our way.

On launch day Sam received a bouquet of roses from our friend Janet - a sweet lady I only know through this blog and our email conversations. Thank you Janet - not only for making April 1st a very special day, but you've introduced us to a really fabulous enterprise: Roses for Autism. If you ever want to send roses, this is the place. Visit the site to learn more about their exceptional staff, HERE.

Just after Sam's birthday, he participated in a talent/fashion show at our high school with his peers. It was the most amazing evening seeing these special kids parade across the stage, and sing, and dance. Sam had a display of his cards with two other entrepreneurs; a friend who makes candles and air fresheners, and another artist who paints and illustrates. Super fun night and utterly heartwarming.

As I mentioned, in addition to painting cards, we were commissioned by friends to create special packages. Veering from our usual routine was something Sam took in stride but he can't wait to get back to painting next week. He whizzes through the labeling and packaging because he knows that once that is done he can get back to the easel.

Tomorrow is May. I remember making May Day offerings out of construction paper and filling with leftover Easter grass and a handful of treats to leave at the door of friends. Ring the bell, hang a surprise on the doorknob, and run! It was a tradition in my neighborhood that we continued with our kids. Anyone else do May Day cones or baskets?

Friday, April 01, 2016

We are excited to launch this new venture together, and are making our announcement today,

the beginning of Autism Awareness month.

SPECIAL NEEDS is a phrase that has a double meaning. Yes, Sam has 'special needs' in the way most people think. He has autism. But don't we all have special needs? Rather than shy away from the term we are embracing it to remind us that sometimes you just need a little something special. We hope you like our offerings and will choose to purchase when you want a card to send a personal message.

PAINTING WITH PURPOSE: Our goal is not to make profit but to cover our costs, and more importantly, give us a daily purpose. Our products may not be perfect, but that's the beauty of being handmade with heart. We will be donating a portion of our profit to make a difference in the lives of families who are affected by autism.

CREATING OUR OWN DESTINY: After years of working with agencies trying to find appropriate employment we've decided to create our own destiny with the self-imposed ambition to have a daily purpose. Painting with Purpose has become one of our mantras. Sam loves to sit at the easel and paint piles of paper everyday. Painting, cutting, sorting, counting, labeling, packaging and mailing will be a fun way to insert productive activity into our day.

RIPPLE EFFECT: (And the secret behind our logo) We hope that our choice to open this shop will have a ripple effect and inspire others to do something similar. If you know of a family that is also trying to gain employment for their adult child with special needs maybe you could suggest they find an item that could be handmade and sold too. When there isn't a clear path of what to do after graduation, this could be a worthwhile endeavor. I welcome any questions on how to get launched.

As I mentioned here on the blog, a little while ago I had an epiphany. It wasn't a lightning bolt idea, it had actually been simmering for some time. After meeting with our sixth job coach in nearly three years, with grand hopes of finding appropriate job placement for Sam, it was becoming clear that we needed to invent our own plan for daily purpose. Sam has great skills and has had some work experience, but the applications and interviews were going nowhere. We couldn't even secure a regular volunteer position.

My first vision was to come up with a project that Sam could manage on his own, giving him a routine and a schedule - something that he loves. I purchased a die-cut machine with the intention that he could make sets of gift tags and sell them on Etsy. I buy tags from there all the time so it made sense. The endeavor would be a chance for him to be productive, and see results. Cut, sort, count, package. We began. Then, to explain better what we were doing this for, I pulled out some painted cards Sam had made back in middle school with his class. His teacher, Mrs. Reiss, had her husband make the boys some tabletop easels, and they painted papers which were made into card sets. The boys sold the cards from a table at school events, and even had a display at the church holiday bazaar. As I was reminding Sam about the handpainted cards he got really excited, and it was a *sign* we needed to drop the die-cut tags and focus on painting. So painting it is - and eventually we may circle back to tags, but we also have a few more project plans that will debut later in the year. Sam has purpose. Mom and Dad are proud. Family is supportive, and cheering, and tolerant of the dining room take-over during the painting sessions (he paints 30-40 sheets at a time!).

Painting with Purpose becomes a mission, check.

Tabletop easel, check.

White cardstock, check.

Acrylic paints and brushes, check.

New descriptions of assignments on the calendar, check.

Goal: paint, cut, fold, label, and package cards, check.

Prepare online shop at Etsy prior to April 1st to coincide with Autism Awareness month, check.

A few photos from 2007 when Sam's class was selling cards. Thanks to my friend Maureen Reiss, and the other teachers who got the boys started with the process of painting with purpose. Who knew this would become a daily focus? Awesome.

And a re-cap of our adventure - it's only just begun! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us. It's made the process really fun!

Saturday, March 05, 2016

I've never been one to pick a Word of the Year. However, a few weeks ago I had an epiphany, and that came with a word. PURPOSE. I've launched a mission that has kept us busy here at home. I will reveal the details soon, with a few teasers as it gets closer. It's one of those ideas that was lingering around in the corner of my mind and I wasn't sure it could work, but once I started saying it out loud and sharing the plan with loved ones it became something real, something tangible, something do-able.

First, you stretch your way of thinking to consider all possibilities, no matter how far-fetched. Then you reign it in and determine what can be accomplished in reality. You weigh pros and cons, do some research, and begin to visualize a successful outcome. You gather the supplies you need, set up a schedule, and jump in.

As a sign that we are on a mission, I scored a handsome Word of the Year Rock + Amulet from my friend Kim Mailhot (aka The Rock Fairy) who makes and sells these in her Etsy shop HERE. Isn't she a clever one? This hangs over our work table and reminds us that what we do is important.